Rep. Sanchez translates the pope

March 19, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Newly reelected congresswoman Loretta Sanchez appeared and spoke at the Anaheim Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 10, 2010. //ADDITIONAL INFO / / / n.vets.jah .shot 111010 JEBB HARRIS THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Eight military banners honoring servicemen currently serving in the U.S. Military, were unveiled Wednesday, November 10, 2010 during Anaheim's Veterans Day salute at City Hall. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Newly reelected congresswoman Loretta Sanchez appeared and spoke at the Anaheim Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 10, 2010. //ADDITIONAL INFO / / / n.vets.jah .shot 111010 JEBB HARRIS THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Eight military banners honoring servicemen currently serving in the U.S. Military, were unveiled Wednesday, November 10, 2010 during Anaheim's Veterans Day salute at City Hall. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Shortly before she died, Rep. Loretta Sanchez's grandmother said she had two unfulfilled goals – buying a house and seeing the pope.

So it's natural her grandmother was on Sanchez's mind Tuesday when the Santa Ana Democrat was part of a nine-person congressional delegation seated just below the main platform at the papal inauguration. Sanchez had studied in Rome as part of her MBA program in the 1980s and learned Italian, so she translated Pope Francis' message for her fellow Congress members.

"Our job is to help those less fortunate," Sanchez said by phone later. "It was incredibly inspiring. Some people were crying. I was blown away.

"One of the main reasons I'm a Catholic is the idea of putting service before self, and that's what Francis is about."

Sanchez then took communion in St. Peter's Square – she estimated 200 priests went into the crowd to administer communion.

"To me, the most amazing thing was seeing the priests go all the way to the back," she said. "Anybody who wanted communion could have it. It was really something beautiful to behold."

Afterward, Sanchez went to one of the four basilicas nearby and lit a candle for grandma.

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